Disclaimer: 20th verse, same as the first. Reviews are welcomed, flames aren't. No like, don't read.
Chapter 20: 'Tis Pity, 'Tis True
When the last note ended, Harry stood and walked away with his guitar in one hand, his music case in the other. Behind him, the Great Hall was silent as everyone sat stunned by the power of the message behind the music.
0o0o0o0
The train ride back to King's Crossing was almost anti-climatic. Harry couldn't wait to get back to his parents. He had been instructed not to go through the mirror after the feast but to Gringotts where he would be met.
Harry wondered if Dumbledore got the message behind the song. 'Probably not,' he mused. 'The man looks for meanings within meanings but never notices the simple truths.'
When they got off the train, Ron's parents were there to meet them. Harry sighed. 'Bet old Dumbledore arranged this. Honestly, the man needs a hobby.'
"Harry, dear. It is wonderful to meet you. Ron and the twins have told us so much about you," Mrs. Weasley said, "Who's meeting you today?"
Harry smiled, "Well, I'm to take a taxi to the Leaky Cauldron and be met there."
"Nonsense. A boy like you shouldn't be gallivanting around London alone," she replied. "We wouldn't dream of allowing it."
"Oh. I don't mind, Mrs. Weasley," Harry protested politely. "I'm not a child."
In the end, Mrs. Weasley wouldn't hear of it. Harry fumed all the way to the Leaky Cauldron. He was sure that Dumbledore was behind it all. He made idle chit-chat with Ron and the rest of the Weasleys, but told them nothing about his guardians. 'Honestly, these people need lessons in subtlety. How obvious can you get?' He thought, trying not to roll his eyes.
Once inside the Leaky Cauldron, Mrs. Weasley offered to wait for his guardians. Harry smiled and shrugged, "I have to use the rest room. If you'll excuse me?"
Of course, Harry never came back. Once he got get away from the sea of red heads, he made his way out the back and into the Alley. There he quickly made his way to Gringotts and Ragnok.
He was home free for the summer!
0o0o0o0
Summer looked to be fun and busy. Harry was now Garion. He had missed his family, as they -- him. After he made his report to his parents of his studies and adventures, he was filled in on what they had planned for him – more studies in elven and bardic magic along with physical training. And of course, the theatre was doing "South Pacific" and "The Tempest " for summer stock. There would be parts for him in both.
That was until a tiny being known as a house elf made his presence known. The poor little guy wasn't used to being surround by goblins and high elves. He found his mission difficult to accomplish as he tried to convince Garion not to return to Hogwarts.
'Fat chance. Father would never allow it. All because of the bloody time line!' Garion thought, shaking his head. Well no matter. He wasn't going to allow anyone or anything to spoil his summer.
0o0o0o0
All too soon it was time go get his books and supplies at Diagon Alley.
"Harry!"
Garion sighed. He had hoped for a quick in and out. Turning around as he adjusted his music case, he spied Ron and Hermione running up to him. Thankfully, his mother wasn't along, however his father had made it clear that he would not be alone. He was even more thankful not to see the over exuberant Mrs. Weasley.
"How have you been, mate? Mum was livid when you snuck out like that. She calmed down when you sent that box of roses to her. She couldn't stay mad," Ron said, almost out of breath.
He had hoped to remain Garion awhile longer. Looks like his father had been right, after all. 'Oh well, the show must go on,' he shrugged.
"Sorry, mate. She was cramping my style and I had places to go and things to do," he smirked. "Don't get me wrong, but your mother came on too strong."
Hermione started to pull her two friends towards the book store. She went on about the new book list. "I can't believe they got Gilderoy Lockhart as the new DADA professor. Have you read his books?" she gushed.
Harry and Ron rolled their eyes. "Cor, even mum fancies the git," Ron leaned over and whispered to Harry.
A crowd had gathered in front of Flourish and Botts. A flamboyant wizard was holding court inside. Harry groaned as he watched his friends worm their way into the crowd. He just knew something bad was about to happen.
Shaking his head, he followed them. Inside, a tall blonde wizard was working the crowd like a con man selling snake oil.
"Why if it isn't Harry James Potter! The Boy Who Lived!"
Harry froze for a split second before his arm was grasped and he was hauled into the spotlight. "What a marvelous coincidence. The two of us together!" simpered the showy blonde.
Harry snapped out of his stupor. He was now in his element. If the man wanted to work the crowd, he would be more than happy to oblige. When in doubt, fall back on Shakespeare.
"Unhand me, foul varlet!" Harry sneered loudly. "I know you not! Thou deboshed fish, thou!"
"Why Harry, my lad. Don't you know me? I am Gilderoy Lockhart, your new professor in Defense. We'll be seeing a lot of each other come the new school term."
Harry raised an eyebrow, jerking his arm free, "Again I say, release me, sir! I do begin to have bloody thoughts! Thou knave, thou rogue! Thou bragging popinjay! True fame needs no herald."
"But Harry. . ."
Harry sneered. "No sir! Begone." He gave a wave of dismissal. "I know you not. As an underage wizard, I could have you arrested for accosting me. I will not have you riding on the coat tails of my name!"
Someone in the crowd snapped a photo. Harry turned around. "Sell that and my parents will sue you and whoever prints it for everything they are worth. Remember there are underage privacy laws. I know my rights."
Harry was beyond furious and the ambient magic in the air wasn't helping. In fact, it seemed to be fueling his anger. Thankfully, he still had enough control to contain it.
"Har . . . er. . .Mr. Potter," Gilderoy Lockhart stuttered. His face a bit pale. "Let's be reasonable. The public has a right. . ."
Narrowing his eyes, Harry said in the calm, cold voice that his parents and brothers had come to recognize as the warning sign to 'duck and cover.' "Professor Lockhart, and I use the title loosely, you are the adult. Please act like one!"
A burst of gasps and murmuring broke out as Harry stepped away from the wizard.
"Very nicely done, Mr. Potter," came the dark, cultured voice of Lucius Malfoy. He and Draco were standing next to shocked Mr. Weasley and Ron's sister, Ginny.
"Oh Harry," Hermione came up behind him. "Did you have to make the man look foolish? He is to be our professor this term. You should show him the proper respect."
Harry rolled his eyes. "The man made himself look the fool." Still channeling Shakespeare, Harry sighed dramatically, placed a hand to his forehead and stared up at the ceiling, "Lord, what fools these mortals be. That he's mad, 'tis true, 'tis true 'tis pity, and pity 'tis 'tis true."
Hermione sputtered as Harry quoted from two Shakespearean plays out of context. Harry smiled, offering an arm to her, "Come fair maid. Our shopping isn't done. Onward."
As he escorted Hermione passed the older wizards, he bowed slightly, "Gentlemen. If you'll excuse us? It would be rude to keep a lady from her shopping."
Late afternoon, after Harry finally escaped his friends, he stopped at Florean Fortescue's for ice cream, and to ponder the day's events.
Pulling his guitar from his ever present case, he quietly practiced a piece he had been working on. The magic swirled around him, however this time, he was better protected by the crystal he wore. His thoughts were on the dark magic he had felt around the older Malfoy. It seemed malevolent, much like the dark magic that radiated off of Snape's arm.
"You must let the events unfold, my son."
Harry stopped playing. Standing in the shadows, stood his father. "You were watching, Father?"
The Goblin King bowed slightly. "Indeed. I will always watch over you, my Garion."
0o0o0o0
I'm glad you all liked the last chapter. As for the quotes, one was from "Hamlet" and one was from "Midsummer Night's Dream" and the rest were from "The Tempest." We'll let you figure out which was which. Look for a couple of songs in later chapters from "South Pacific". Sorry for those that thought Harry came off a tad arrogant. He was playing the crowd.
To the person that didn't like the lyrics, please note, he is a Bard. Music is magic to him and magic is music. Sorry if you don't like it.
As for Wormtail and Sirius, well you just have to wait and see. We ain't tellin'.
Until next time. –GF and The Frau